Cut-out for electrical-distribution apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

'M. M. M. SLATTERY. GUT-OUT POR ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS.

.No. 375,014. Patented Dec. 20, 18787.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 21.

M. M. M. SLATTERY.

GUT-OUT FOR BLEGTRIUAL DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS.

No. 375,014. Patented Dec. 20, 1887.

WITNESSES. WVENTU %6 W MZ 22.

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I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARMADUKE M. M. SLA TTERY, OF \VOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE FORT WAYNE ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

CUT-OUT FOR ELECTRICAL-DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,014, dated December 20, 1887,

Application filed March 2, 1887.

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARMADUKE M. M. SLATTERY, of Woburn, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gut-Outs for ElectricDisti-ibution Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention is designed for use in connection with apparatus for the distribution of electricity, and especially such as now employed by me and described in my other patents or applications. I will describe it as applied to one form of apparatus; but to those skilled in the art its application to other forms will no doubt be obvious. The form of apparatus to which at the present moment I consider it especially applicable is shown in diagram in the drawings, Figure 1, while a front View (partly also in diagram) of the present improvement, more in detail, is presented in Figs. 2, 3.

It should be remarked that the present improvement is intended for use in connection with what is sometimes called a multiple 2 5 series system, in which two or more multiples or groups of incandescent lamps or other translating devices are placed in series upon a single main line carrying a constant current at a potential varying with the number of 0 groups in series. Now the total resistance of such a multiple or group will be the resistance of each individual translating device or lamp (which, it may be assumed, will be equal for all the lamps ofthe group) divided by the num- 5 her of lamps at any given time in circuit in the multiple; or, e. 9., in the case of ten fiftyvolt lamps of one ampere approximately pg ohms equals five ohms. The total resistance of the circuit will be of course the resistance 40 of each groupmultiplied by the number of automatically opened on the cessation of cur- 5o rent. This being so, it may happen that on the current ceasing there will remain in circuit only one or two or, perhaps, no lamps in one or more groups, whereby of course the resistance of that group or groups will be increased. It will thus be seen that in the event of very few lamps being leftin circuit on shutting off the current for the night or otherwise the total resistance of the circuit might be very considerable. On again starting the dy- 6o namo-electric machine or other source of current under these conditions, one oftwo things may happen. Either the elcctro-motive force of the machine will be insufficient to overcome this higher resistance, or, should it be suffi- 6 cient, injury to the apparatus might ensue. To prevent this is the object of the present invention, and it accomplishes it by momentarily reducing the initial resistance of the group in which it may be placed to a degree suffi- 7o cienttoallowtheapparatustocomeintoproper operation, when by means of the apparatus itself the device is immediately cut out of circuit again and the apparatus assumes its normal action. ;5

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows in diagram a main line, A A, entering and leaving the double-multiple apparatus by the terminals B B. The current (assuming it to enter at B) divides,passing part by the conductor O to the lamp-circuit D and out to the line by B, other part by the conductor E, through solenoid G to the subtitute resistance-circuit when closed, or by S to the cut-out circuitcontact, hereinafter referred to, when closed. Asmall portion of the current is shunted by the fine coil of the solenoid across the poles of the apparatus by F, as will be explained further. H (or H) is a core free to move up and down within the solenoid of each group in accord- 9o ance with the condition of activity thereof as affected by the variations of current in its coils, and, when attracted downward by an increase of current in G or G, will close the successive contacts K K K, thereby complet- 5 ing new circuits through R R R, which will either take the place of lamps removed from circuit, or, if none are removed, reduce the brilliancy of those in circuit. This last case is when the contacts are closed in manner and for the purposes shown in another application. In connection with H, and having its move ment controlled thereby, is a bar or plate, L, (L,) of some conducting material, preferably carbon and of circular form, which by the upward movement of H on the reduction of current in the solenoid is caused to impinge on contact-points, as M M or M M. In the drawings is shown a double multiple having two pairs of these contact-points, M M and M" M, the inner sidesjoined by conductor P. Thus when the carbon plates L L are allowed to rise, so as to impinge upon M M or M M, a short circuit is formed through B E G S M L M on one side conductor 1?, and M L M S G E B on the other side of the apparatus. The current, however, having to pass through one or more of the solenoids to reach the cut-out for that multiple or multiples (which, when the apparatus is not in operation, are closed) energizes them, and simultaneously with the passage of the current through the cut-out or short circuit the cores H H are attracted and withdraw the plates L L from contact with M M, opening the cut-out circuit, and allowing the lamp-circuit or substitute resistancecircnit, or both, as the case may be, to come into operation. By this time, however, even if no lamps were in circuit, the cores would have been attracted within the solenoids tosuch a degree as to close a suflicient number of the substitute resistaneecircuits to allow of the passage of the current with safety. On cessation of the current the cores will no longer be attracted, and the plates L L will close upon the points M M M M, completing the short circuit, as before explained. \Vhen the current is again started, it will find a passage through the solenoid G to the cut-out M L M to I, cut-out M L M through the second solenoid and out to theline, in the meantime, however, putting the apparatus in operation, the short circuit at L being momentary only, as before explained.

It does not appear necessary to explain the action of the solenoids further than to say that the fine-wire coil during normal operation of the lamps receives but a very small portion of the total current. On successive lamps being removed from circuit more current is shunted through it and the core is attracted, so as to successively close resistance-circuits through the coarse-wire coil, such coarse-wire coil receiving also constant accessions of current and serving to hold the core in its successively al tered positions. This, however, I do not claim here.

Fig. 2 is a drawing, more in detail, ofa preferred form of cutout. M M are two standards, which may be of brass or other conducting medium, insulated from one another. 0 0 are small pieces or short rods of carbon made rev movable and held in place by screws 8 s.

screw-threaded rod 19 and spring t, q being a lock-nut for the purpose of retaining L in any position to which it may be adjusted. I find it desirable to employ a yielding or spring seat for the standards or pillars M, as shown at x in Figs. 2 and 3, for the purpose of preventing risk of fracture of the carbons by shock; but this is in no way essential.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a system of electrical distribution in which groups or multiples of translating devices are operated in series, an clectro-magnet in a circuit in multiple with the translating-device group, which circuit is open during normal operation of the translating devices, and a cut-out device controlled by said electromagnet, whereby on loss of magnetism in said magnet said group of translating devices is cut out of circuit.

2. In combination with two or more multiples of incandescent lamps or other translating devices, arranged in series, a normallyopen substitute resistance circuit or circuits in multiple with thetranslatingdevices,an electromagnet therein, an independent short-circuit device normally open during operation of the translating devices, placed in series with said electro-magnet and kept open thereby, and a spring or equivalent means for closing said short circuit when not kept open by said electro-magnet.

3. In apparatus for electrical distribution, a circuit of multiples of translating devices, such multiples placed in series, a constantlyclosed derived circuit therefrom, including coils of an electro-magnet, a derived normallyopen substitute resistance-circuit, also including coils of said electro-magnet, and a short or cut-out circuit around the whole, closed when said translating devices are not in operation, and mechanism controlled by said electromagnet for opening said. short circuit on access of current to its coils.

4. The combination, in an apparatus for electrical regulation or distribution in which two or more multiples of translating devices or substitute resistance-circuits are arranged in series upon a constant-current line, ofa regulating-solenoid and a core actuating contactpieces in each of said multiples of substitute resistance-circuits, and a cut-out device for each such multiple of translating devices or of resistances, whichever may happen to be in circuit, operatcdor controlled by said solenoid and core, but independent of said resistance multiple, whereby on cessation of current a short circuit will be closed around the multiple of translating devices or of resistances, as the case may be.

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Witnesses:

J. E. TALBOT, Units. E. Honcns.

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